The Dubliners

[fox69]

"The Lifeboat Mona"

"The Lifeboat Mona"


[Chorus:]
Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

The wind it blows and the sea roars up
Beats the land with mighty waves
At St.Andrew's Bay the lightship fought
The sea until her moorings gave

[Chorus]

The captain signalled to the shore
'We must have help or we'll go down'
From Broughty Ferry at two a.m.
They sent The Lifeboat Mona

[Chorus]

Eight men formed that gallant crew
They set their boat against the main
The wind's so hard and the sea's so rough
We'll never see land or home again

[Chorus]

Three hours went by and the Mona called
The winds blow hard and the seas run high
In the morning on Carnusty Beach
The Mona and her crew did lie

[Chorus]

Five lay drowned in the kelp there
Two were washed up on the shore
Eight men died when the boat capsized
And the eighth is lost forever more

[Chorus]

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
The men who leave the land behind
And the men who never see land again

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
The men who leave the land behind
And the men who never see land again

 

[fox69]

"The Louse House Of Kilkenny"

"The Louse House Of Kilkenny"



Oh, the first of me downfall I set out the door
I straight made me way on for Carrick-on-Suir
Going out by Rathronan 'twas late in the night
Going out the West Gate for to view the gaslight
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

I went to the town's hall to see the big lamp
And who should I meet but a bloody big tramp
I finally stepped over and to him I said:
"Will you kindly direct me to where I'll get a bed?"
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

'Twas then he directed me down to Cooks Lane
To where old Buck St John kept an old sleeping cage
From out of the door was a small piece of board
Hung out on two nails with a short piece of cord
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

I looked up and down till I found out the door
And a queerer old household sure I ne'er saw before
Then the Misses came out and these words to me said:
"If you give me three coppers, sure I'll give you a bed"
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

Well I then stood aside with me back to the wall
And the next thing I saw was an oul cobbler's stall
And there was the cobbler and he mending his brogues
With his hammers and pinchers all laid in a row
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

Then she brought me upstairs and she put out the light
And in less than five minutes I had to show fight
And in less than five more when the story was best
The fleas came around me and brought me a curse
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

'Twas all around me body they formed a march
'Twas all around me body they played the Death march
For the bloody oul major gave me such a pick
That he nearly made away with half of me hip
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

Now I'm going to me study, these lines to pen down
And if any poor traveller should e'er come to town
And if any poor traveller should be nighted like me
Beware of Buck St John and his black cavalry
Radley fal the diddle ay
Radley fal the diddle airo

 

[fox69]

"The Mero"

"The Mero"



Somebody under the bed
Whoever can it be?
I feel so very nervous,
I call for Joanie
Joanie lights the candle but there's nobody there
Hay-hi-diddly-I
And out goes she

Skippin' ropes still turnin',
Children at their play
In and out of Catherine St,
In and out to pray
I haven't prayed for 20 years
Or sung a happy song
Since praying went with innocence
And the divil played along

And we all went up to the Mero,
Hey there who's your man?
It's only Johnny 40 coats,
Sure he's a desperate man

Bang Bang shoots the buses
With his golden key
Hay-hi-diddly-I
And out goes she

Me father was a stater
And me mother loved a tan
She loved her ham and her sausages
And her soldier fancy man

Nora's up in Jacobs,
And Mary's on the town
And I joined the transport union when they said me nose was brown

And we all went up to the Mero
Hey there who's your man?
It's Alfie Byrne out walking,
Sure he's a dacent man

Bang Bang shoots the buses
With his golden key
Hay-hi-diddly-I
And out goes she

I'm a tanner for the Mero
And me compo money's hid
If Mary's in the faffity way
She can blame the Cisco kid
I'll be langers in the mornin,
Me longers need a patch
Awh jaysus there's Con Martin
I hope yis win the match

My Uncle had a wolfhound
That never had to pee
But Haylemon snatched it
Down on Eden Quay

Now I have my primo
And me scaffolders are blue
For helping the black babies
And Dolly Fosset too

And we all went up to the Mero
Hey there who's your man
It's Brendan Behan out walking
Sure he's the ginger man

Bang Bang shoots the buses
With his golden key
Hay-hi-diddly-I
And out goes she

It's true that Dublin's changing
Since the pillar was blown down
By the winds of violence that are buggering up the town
We used to solve our difference
With a diggin' match and a jar
Now they're all playin' bang bang
That's goin' too bleedin' far

And we all go up to the Mero
Hey there who's yer man
It's only me guardian angel
Get a large one for yer man

There's no use bleedin' rushin'
Sure now it's the holy hour
A plenary indulgence
And another baby power

 

[fox69]

"The Monto"

"The Monto"



Well if you got a wingo
Take her up to ringo
Where the waxies sing o all the day
If you've had your fill of porter
And you can't go any further
Give yer man the order "Back to the Quay"
And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take her up to Monto, langeroo, to you

The Dirty Duke of Gloucester
The dirty old imposter
Took his mot and lost her up the Furry Glen
He first put on his bowler
Then he buttoned up his trousers
And he whistled for a growler
And he said "My man"
Take me up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take me up to Monto, langeroo, to you

You see the Dublin Fusiliers
The dirty old bamboozileers
They went to get the childer one, two, three
Marchin' from the linenhall
There's one for every canonball
And Vicki's going to send yis all o'er the sea
But first go up to Monto, Monto, Monto
First go up to Monto, langeroo, to you

When the Tzar of Russia
And the King of Prussia
Landed in the Phoenix Park in a big balloon
They asked the Police band to play
The Wearing of the Green
But the buggers in the Depot
Didn't know that tune
So they both went up to Monto, Monto, Mont
They both went up to Monto, langeroo, to you

The Queen she came to call on us
She wanted to see all of us
I'm glad she didn't fall on us
She's eighteen stone
Mr. me Lord Mayor, sez she
Is this all you've got to show to me?
Why no, ma'am, there is more to see - póg mo thoin

And he took her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
He took her up to Monto, langeroo
Goodnight to you

 

[fox69]

"The Newry Highwayman"

"The Newry Highwayman"



In Newry Town I was bred and born
In Steven's Green now I'll die in scorn.
I served my time to the saddling trade
but I turned out to be, I turned out to be a roving blade.

At seventeen I took a wife
I loved her dearly as I love life
And for to keep both fine and gay
I took to robbing, I took to robbing on the King's highway.

I never robbed any poor man yet
Nor any tradesman has cause to fret
I rob the lords and their ladies bright
I take their jewels, I take their jewels to my heart's delight.

To Covent Garden I make my way
With my dear wife for to see the play
Lord Fielding's corps they did me pursue
And I was taken, I was taken by that cursed crew.

My father cried, "Oh, my darling son"
My wife she wept and said, "I'm undone"
My mother tore her white locks and cried,
"'Twas in the cradle, 'twas in the cradle that he should have died."

And when I'm dead and in my grave
A flashy funeral pray let me have
With six bold highwaymen to carry me
Give them good broadswords, good broadswords and liberty.

Six pretty maidens to bear my pall
Give them white ribbons and garlands all
For when I'm dead, aye they'll speak the truth
He was a wild and a wicked youth.

 

[fox69]

"The Night Visiting Song"

"The Night Visiting Song"



I must away now, I can no longer tarry
This morning's tempest, I have to cross
I must be guided without a stumble
Into the arms, I love the most

And when he came to his true love's dwelling
He knelt down gently upon a stone
And through her window, he whispered lowly
Is my true lover within, at home?

Wake up, wake up, love, it is thine own true lover
Wake up, wake up, love, and let me in
For I am tired, love, and oh, so weary
And more than near, drenched to the skin

She raised her up on her down soft pillow
She raised her up and she let him in
And they were locked in each other's arms
Until, that long night was past and gone

And when that long night was past and over
And when the small clouds began to grow
He took her hand and kissed, and parted
And he saddled and mounted, and away he did go

I must away now, I can no longer tarry
This morning's tempest, I have to cross
I must be guided without a stumble
Into the arms I love the most

 

[fox69]

"The Nightingale"

"The Nightingale"



As I went a walking one morning in May
I met a young couple so far did we stray
And one was a young maid so sweet and so fair
And the other was a soldier and a brave grenadier

And they kissed so sweet and comforting
As they clung to each other
They went arm in arm along the road
Like sister and brother

They went arm in arm along the road
'Til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love
To hear the nightingale sing

Out of his knapsack he took a fine fiddle
He played her such merry tunes that you ever did hear
He played her such merry tunes that the valley did ring
And softly cried the fair maid as the nightingale sings

And they kissed so sweet and comforting
As they clung to each other
They went arm in arm along the road
Like sister and brother

They went arm in arm along the road
'Til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love
To hear the nightingale sing

Oh, I'm off to India for seven long years
Drinking wines and strong whiskies instead of strong beer
And if ever I return again 'twill be in the spring
And we'll both sit down together love to hear the nightingale sing

And they kissed so sweet and comforting
As they clung to each other
They went arm in arm along the road
Like sister and brother

They went arm in arm along the road
Til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love
To hear the nightingale sing

"Well then", says the fair maid, "Will you marry me?"
"Oh no", says the soldier, "however can that be?"
For I've my own wife at home in my own country
And she is the finest little maid that you ever did see

And they kissed so sweet and comforting
As they clung to each other
They went arm in arm along the road
Like sister and brother

They went arm in arm along the road
'Til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love
To hear the nightingale sing

 

[fox69]

"The Old Alarm Clock"

"The Old Alarm Clock"



When first I came to London In the year of 39
The city looked so wonderful, and the girls were so Divine
But the coppers got suspicius, and they soon gave me the knock
I was charged with being the owner, of an old alarm clock

Well next morning down by Marlborough Street, I caused no little stir
The I.R.A were busy and a telephone did burr
Says the judge I'm going to charge you, with the possession of this machine.
And I'm also going to charge you, with the wearing of the Green

Well says I to him, your honour, if you give me half a chance
I'll show you how me small machine can make the peelers dance
Well it ticks away polictly, 'till you get an awful shock
And it ticks away the gellignite, on me old alarm clock

O the judge says listen here my man and I'll tell you of a plan
For you and all your countrymen I do net give a damm
Well the only time you'll take is mine, ten years in Dartmoor dock
And you can count it by the ticking, of your old alarm clock.

Well this lonely Dartmoor City would put many in the jigs
The cell it isn't pretty and it isn't very big
Sure long ago I'd have left the place, if I had only got,
Ah me couple of sticks of gelignite and me old alarm clock

 

[fox69]

"The Old Man"

"The Old Man"



Somebody's under the bed
Whoever can it be?
I feel so very nervous
I call for Joanee
Joanee lights the candle
But there's nobody there
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai
And out goes she

Skipping rope still turning
Children at their play
In and out of Clarendon Street
In and out to pray
I haven't prayed for twenty years
Or sung a happy song
Since praying went with innocence
And the devil played along

And we all went up to the Mero
Hey there! Who's your man?
It's only Johnny '40 coats'
Sure he's a desperate man
Bang, bang shoots the buses
With his golden key
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai
And out goes she

Me father was a stater
And me mother loved a tan
She loved her Hafner's sausages
And her soldier fancy man
Noel's up in Jacob's
And Mary's on the town
And I joined the transport union
When they said my nose was brown

And we all went up to the Mero
Hey there! Who's your man
It's Alfie Byrne out walking
Sure he's a decent man
Bang, bang shoots the buses
With his golden key
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai
And out goes she

I've a tanner for the Mero
And me confo money's hid
If Mary's in the family way
She can blame the Cisco kid
I'll be langers in the morning
Me longers need a patch
Ah, Jesus! There's lone' Martin
I hope he's won the match

Me uncle had a wolfhound
That never had to pee
But Hairy Lemon snatched it
Down on Eden quay
Now I have me primo
And me scapulars are blue
For helping the black babies
And Dolly Fossett too

And we all went up to the Mero
Hey there! Who's your man?
It's Brendan Behan out walking
Sure he's a ginger man
Bang, bang shoots the buses
With his golden key
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai
And out goes she

It's true that Dublin's changing
Since the pillar was blown down
By the winds of violence
That are buggering up the town
We used to solve a difference
With a digging match and a jar
But now they're all playing bang-bang
That's going too bleeding far

And we all go up to the Mero
Hey there! Who's your man?
It's only me guardian angel
Get a large one for your man
There's no use bleedin' Russia
Sure now it's the holy hour
A plenary indulgence
And another baby power

 

[fox69]

"The Old Orange Flute"

"The Old Orange Flute"



In the County Tyrone, near the town of Dungannon,
Where many the ructions meself had a hand in.
Bob Williamson lived, a weaver by trade,
And all of us thought him a stout Orange blade,
On the Twelfth of July as it yearly did come,
Bob played with his flute to the sound of a drum.
You may talk of your harp, your piano or lute,
But none can compare with the Old Orange Flute.

Bob, the deceiver, he took us all in;
He married a Papist named Bridget McGinn.
Turned Papist himself and forsook the old cause
That gave us our freedom, religion and laws.
Now, boys of the townland made some noise upon it,
And Bob had to fly to the province of Connaught.
He fled with his wife and his fixings to boot,
And along with the latter his Old Orange Flute.

At the chapel on Sunday to atone for past deeds,
He'd say Pater and Aves and counted his brown beads.
'Til after some time, at the priest's own desire
He went with that old flute to play in the choir.
He went with that old flute for to play for the Mass,
But the instrument shivered and sighed, oh, alas,
And try though he would, though it made a great noise,
The flute would play only "The Protestant Boys."

Bob jumped and he stared and got in a flutter
And threw the old flute in the blessed holy water.
He thought that this charm would bring some other sound;
When he tried it again, it played "Croppies Lie Down."
Now, for all he could whistle and finger and blow,
To play Papish music he found it no go.
"Kick the Pope" and "The Boyne Water" it freely would sound,
But one Papish squeak in it couldn't be found.

At the council of priests that was held the next day
They decided to banish the old flute away.
They couldn't knock heresy out of it's head,
So they bought Bob a new one to play in it's stead.
'Twas fastened and burned at the stake as a heretic.
As the flames soared around it, they heard a strange noise;
'Twas the old flute still whistling "The Protestant Boys."
"Toora lu, toora lay"